Tallinn Cruise Terminal awarded the international Green Key certificate
The cruise terminal of the Old City Harbour of Tallinn was awarded the Green Key, which assures both cruise passengers and the guests and partners visiting events at the cruise terminal that we operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. The flag of the Green Key certificate was hoisted at the cruise terminal by Minister of Climate Kristen Michal and Chairman of the Board of the Port of Tallinn Valdo Kalm.
Minister of Climate Kristen Michal congratulated the Port of Tallinn on receiving the Green Key certificate and stressed that a smaller environmental footprint is a competitive edge. “For a cruise terminal, this is reflected in added value for customers – the port generates less garbage, the buildings are heated and cooled by marine energy and local food producers are preferred.”
Chairman of the Board of the Port of Tallinn Valdo Kalm said that applying for the Green Key certificate for the cruise terminal of the Old City Harbour is part of the sustainable development strategy of the Port of Tallinn, one significant aim of which is to contribute to more rigorous environmentally friendly practices, decrease the ecological footprint of our activities, and meet the goals of sustainable development. “The Green Key is essentially a sign of quality in operating as an environmentally friendly and sustainable conference centre for the cruise terminal. Whereas for guests and event organisers, Green Key is a point in favour of choosing an event site and creates added value. We also encourage the partners, tenants and guests of the cruise terminal to organise their events according to the criteria of Green Key or in compliance with the overall principles of the Green Key programme,” Valdo Kalm added.
Green Key is an international ecological certificate for tourist undertakings and is a leading standard since 1994 used to acknowledge environmentally friendly and sustainable tourist destinations. Nearly 4000 companies from 60 countries worldwide have now obtained the certificate. The Green Key programme contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN.
The cruise terminal of the Old City Harbour as a holder of the Green Key certificate complies with the following significant criteria:
- Requirements to waste: we sort garbage and recycle whenever possible. We avoid any excess packaging and the use of disposable dishes.
- Requirements to energy: we use automation in our facilities, energy is produced by solar panels adapted to the Nordic climate, the building is heated and cooled by marine energy via a heat pump.
- Requirements to water: we select taps and other sanitary equipment based on how much they save water and encourage our guests to drink tapwater.
- Requirements to food: we serve more vegetarian food, using domestically grown clean produce and produce from small manufacturers.
- Requirements to cleaning: cleaning agents are dosed in advance and we only use agents with an ecological certificate.
- Outdoor maintenance: we do not use pesticides and water sparingly, as needed.
- Purchases: we have chosen partners and suppliers whose transparency, integrity and responsibility we can be sure of.
The international promoter of Green Key is the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Green Key offers an operating model to tourist undertakings to develop corporate environmental friendliness and a sustainable approach. A high level of environmental friendliness is ensured by documenting operations, independent auditing, and site inspections. In Estonia, the certificate is coordinated by the joint efforts of EAS and Kredex.
The modern and varied cruise terminal of the Old City Harbour and its promenade open up the seaside for the residents to spend their free time. The cruise terminal is a popular venue which stands out with its gorgeous and modern interior architecture. The modern and environmentally friendly cruise terminal and its surroundings can be used to host various events – conferences, exhibitions, fairs, concerts, corporate parties.
Read more about the Green key here and about the cruise terminal as an event venue here.
Marketing Manager
Posted: 26.07.2023
Categories: News
